Office on Violence Against Women

"OVW" redirects here. For the Kentucky-based professional wrestling promotion, see Ohio Valley Wrestling.

Office on Violence Against Women
Agency overview
Formed1995; 29 years ago (1995)
Headquarters145 N Street NE,
Washington, D.C.
38°54′25″N 77°00′17″W / 38.906827°N 77.004645°W / 38.906827; -77.004645
Annual budget$413 million (2013)[1]
Agency executive
Parent agencyUnited States Department of Justice
Websitewww.justice.gov/ovw

The United States Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) was created following the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 1994.[2] The Act was renewed in 2005, 2013 and again in 2022.[3][4] The Violence Against Women Act legislation requires the Office on Violence Against Women to work to respond to and reduce violence against women in many different areas, including on college campuses and in people's homes.[2] VAWA requires Office on Violence Against Women to administer justice and strengthen services for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.[2]

The Office on Violence Against Women is headed by a director, who is appointed by the President[5][6] and confirmed by the Senate. The principal deputy director serves directly under the director, as do the deputy directors. Until January 2017, Bea Hanson, Ph.D., was the acting director and principal deputy director. When Hanson resigned in January 2017, Deputy Director Nadine M. Neufville became acting director.[2]

As an office in the United States Department of Justice, the Office on Violence Against Women receives federal funding for federal grants that are awarded to communities across America. These grants are used to create successful partnerships between federal, state, tribal, and local authorities as well as provide helpful services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.[2] During fiscal year 2017, Office on Violence Against Women awarded $450,000,000 of grants.[7][8] For example, Sexual Assault Services Program assists victims of sexual assault and family members affected by it.[7][9] Since its inception, Office on Violence Against Women has awarded over $6 billion in grants directed towards such projects.[2]

  1. ^ "Funding Highlights" (PDF). Archives. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "USDOJ: Office on Violence Against Women" Archived 2014-07-13 at the Wayback Machine. Office on Violence Against Women. Retrieved 2013-03-23.
  3. ^ "House Renews Violence Against Women Amidst GOP Fissures". The New York Times. February 28, 2013. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  4. ^ Davis, Susan (March 9, 2022). "Violence Against Women Act reauthorization is added to a $1.5 trillion spending bill". NPR. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  5. ^ "DOJ: JMD: Mission and Functions Manual" Office on Violence Against Women. Retrieved 2013-03-23.
  6. ^ "2003 OJP Press Release". Diane Stuart to Serve as Acting Director of the Office on Violence Against Women. February 3, 2003. Retrieved 2013-03-23.
  7. ^ a b "Grant Programs" Archived 2014-07-13 at the Wayback Machine USDOJ: Office on Violence Against Women: Grant Programs. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  8. ^ "FY 2017 OVW Grant Awards by Program". Office on Violence Against Women. United States Department of Justice. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  9. ^ "2013 Campus Program" Archived April 12, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved March 23, 2013.